Garnett’s Spirits Dip With His Production

SAN ANTONIO — Kevin Garnett said Wednesday that this season was more frustrating than any of the previous 18 he had played.

As the Nets have lurched to a 10-21 record, Garnett’s struggles have been glaring. He is averaging career lows in nearly every statistical category and, even more critically, is having trouble establishing his role.

“Honestly, I have no rhythm,” he said. “I’m trying to establish some confidence and figure this whole where-I-fit-into-the-offense thing.”

Garnett, along with Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, joined the Nets over the summer through a trade with the Boston Celtics. For the first time in his career, he is not a first or second — or even third — option in the offense.

“This has been an adjustment period,” Garnett, 37, said, adding that he had been a “primary” on every other team he has been on. “Coming here, I didn’t expect a lot of minutes. I didn’t expect a lot of touches.”

The Nets have been trying to adapt to new players and a new coach. A rash of injuries stunted that process.

“It’s a lot of moving parts throughout the year, and it’s hard to get a rhythm with that,” Garnett said.

Garnett is averaging 21.5 minutes per game after averaging 29.7 last season, and his production has decreased significantly. He is averaging 6.5 points and 6.9 rebounds this season, compared with 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds last season. His shooting percentage, which was 49.6 last season, is down to 36.4.

The drastic reduction of Garnett’s playing time has been by design. Coach Jason Kidd said from the beginning of training camp that keeping Garnett’s legs fresh would be a priority. Garnett also referred to “Father Time” on Wednesday as a factor complicating things for him.

Some observers, including Garnett’s former coach, Doc Rivers, have suggested that efforts to rest Garnett have hurt his ability to find a rhythm. Garnett is taking about five fewer shots per game than he did last season with the Celtics.

But Kidd said the team would stick to the plan to limit Garnett’s minutes. Asked whether that was to save Garnett for a postseason run, Kidd said it was to get him through the regular season. He said he believed Garnett’s production would pick up.

“He’s getting great looks,” Kidd said. “Some of them haven’t gone in, but we all believe as a team that they will.”

Garnett said his focus had shifted almost entirely to being a vocal and aggressive presence on defense. But his inconsistency on offense has been a source of frustration and a blow to his confidence. He said the most exasperating thing of all was that he felt he had continued to work diligently but had not been seeing the result of his labor.

“I put a lot of time into my craft, so I expect a lot out of it,” he said.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page B10 of the New York edition with the headline: Garnett’s Spirits Dip With His Production. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe